Leading youth homeless charity, St Basil’s says it has been overwhelmed by the numbers who have signed up to take part in this year’s Sleep Out.

The charity, which houses more than 350 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 every night, has already had over 150 people sign up with just four weeks to go until the event on Friday, December 5th.

Steve Rainbow, fundraiser for the charity, said: “This year’s response has been outstanding and has taken us all by surprise. Last year’s event was the biggest to date but, if registrations continue at this rate 2008 is going to be even bigger.”

Last year saw 450 people brave the cold, harsh conditions with only their own clothing, cardboard and plastic sheeting to shelter them overnight. St Basil’s must raise in excess of half a million pounds a year in order to provide crucial services to over 4,000 young people each year who find themselves with nowhere to live.

The Big Sleep Out is really captivating the imagination of many brave people from all walks of life. It is proving so popular that the charity fears that due to space restrictions on site they could be forced to turn people away.

Steve added: “We really don’t want to turn people away but because of the size of the site it is important that people register early. Even if people are unable to sleep out or attend our event we urge them to organise their own Sleep-In event. They can find a venue, get a few friends involved, raise some money and have a party.”